Repeal: Law requiring extra Chamorro language classes is bad, costly

The law that requires an additional two years of Chamorro language classes for public middle schools and one additional year for public high schools needs to be repealed.

Public Law 31-45 is supposed to take effect in the 2013-2014 school year, which begins after summer. But implementation would cost the Guam Department of Education about $8.8 million, in part to hire 25 Chamorro language teachers. That's $8.8 million that the education agency, and the government of Guam, simply can't afford. And that's 25 qualified, certified teachers that are unlikely to be found.

And there are other significant flaws with the law. One is the intention behind it -- to increase the number of public high school graduates who are fluent in Chamorro. But there's absolutely no data that shows extra Chamorro language classes will make that happen.

In fact, the Guam Department of Education has no idea how effective, or ineffective, the current Chamorro language program is. It doesn't measure students' proficiency in Chamorro before they start taking classes, and it doesn't measure proficiency at the end to show improvement, or lack thereof. The idea that simply adding three more years of Chamorro language instruction will suddenly result in more fluent speakers is ludicrous.

And the law also usurped the authority of the Guam Education Board. Deciding public school curriculum -- which courses should be mandatory and at what grade level students should take those courses -- is a policy decision, and thus the school board's decision to make.

If lawmakers want to see policy changes, they should talk to the school board, or pass resolutions asking the board to consider changing policy -- with very clear and defined reasons behind the request.

Public Law 31-45 is bad legislation that will end up costing the local government money it doesn't have. Senators need to repeal the law.